UMass Lowell's Online Graduate Certificate in Plastics Materials
With plastics materials growing increasingly complex, upskilling with our 100% online graduate certificate will give you and your organization an edge. This program is designed for individuals who have a Bachelor's in Engineering or science and want to gain a competitive advantage through advanced knowledge of plastics materials. All credits earned may be applied to UMass Lowell's Master of Science in Plastics Engineering. The Plastics Engineering Department at UMass Lowell is an internationally recognized leader in plastics education.
Complete in 9 Months
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
Career Outlook
Key Takeaways
- Understand the evolution of polymeric material systems, commodity, engineering, biodegradable and high-performance thermoplastics
- Gain knowledge of the relationships between polymer structure and practical properties
- Evaluate typical additives that are used to modify plastics' properties
"UMass Lowell is among the nation's leading centers for plastics technology, and its Plastics Engineering program...is helping to push new boundaries of how these versatile materials are used, produced and processed."
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Curriculum Outline
- 4 Courses / 12 Credits
Required Courses (2 Courses / 6 Credits)
- PLAS.5440 Advanced Plastics Materials (3cr)
- PLAS.5060 Polymer Structure Properties & Applications (3cr)
Electives (Choose 2 / 6 Credits)
- PLAS.5120 Foams (3cr)
- PLAS.5320 Adhesives and Adhesion (3cr)
- PLAS.5330 Green Coatings Science and Technology I (3cr)
- PLAS.5350 Rubber Technology (3cr)
- PLAS.5970 Plastics & Environment (3cr)
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
26.202 pre-re or Grad Career.
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Graduate Certificate Requirements
Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.000 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.
Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .
Completing a Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.000 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.
Fall 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Online | $585 | $1,755 |
| Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
| Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
| Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
| Online Education for Ed.D. and Ph.D. | $500 | $1,500 |
| On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Engineering and Business Degrees and Certificate Applications | $75 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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For Graduate Certificate Programs, Please Submit:
- An application
- An application fee*
- An official transcript indicating a completed bachelor's degree. If your bachelor's degree is from outside the United States, you may be required to take the TOEFL examination.
- No Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs
Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Your application will be processed as soon as all admission materials have been received. You may apply to more than one certificate program but can only take 12 credits maximum before enrolling in an advanced degree. Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest.
Count Your Graduate Certificate Toward a Master's Degree
Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree.
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
